Dry cell



H. DE OLANETA.

DRY CELL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1920.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

3 1400M or HEM. xiv. Q5: ii

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD DE OLANETA, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, 01 NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 02 CONNECTICUT.

naY cm.

Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

Original application filed September 2,- 1919, Serial No. 321,068. Divided and this application filed Kay 7, 1920. Serial No. 379,518.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD on OLANETA, a citizen of the United States, residing in New Haven, New Haven county, Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dry Cells, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to dry cells and the application is a division of my application, Serial N 0. 321,068, filed September 2nd, 1919.

In the manufacture of dry cells, it has been the common practice to place a suitable cartridge, containing a carbon electrode, in a zinc cup between which and the side of the cartridge an exciting paste is interposed; and the top of the cell thus formed has'been closed in many cases by placing one or more paper washers on top of the cartridge and then pouring in sealing wax or other material while in a molten, plastic or liquid state, whereupon such material is permitted to set or harden. The materials for closing the upper end of the cell, and the form and construction of the upper" portion of the cell, have frequently been the cause of serious drawbacks and disadvantages, deleteriously affecting the functioning and life of the cell. Where melted wax, for example, is used for a sealing medium, it is a diiiicult matter to prevent it from getting on the metallic cap of the projecting electrode, and if it sticks to such cap, it has to be scraped off. In hot weather the wax becomes soft and sticky. In cool weather, on the other hand,.the sealing wax is very brittle so as to be easily broken and if the cell is accidentally dropped on the floor, it may not be capable of further service. Plaster of Paris also has this last mentioned drawback and there are similar difficulties incidental to the placing of the same in the cell.

Considerable difliculty has also been encountered heretofore as a result of the gas generated in the cell by electrolytic or thermal action. Gas is generated when the temperature is sufliciently high, regardless of whether or not the circuit of the battery is closed. If the gas is not disposed of in some satisfactory manner, it forces off the end closure or forces paste or other material out of the cell or otherwise damages the Same.

The primary object of my invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, and to furnish a cell having a top closure of such character, form and arrangement that the eiiiclenc'y of the cell is considerably increased, while at the same time deleterious gases are harmlessly disposed of and so the cell is more durable and is therefore calculated to have a longer life. By my improvements, also, the assemblage of the cell parts is simplified, increasing the facility and decreasing the cost of manufacture.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing,

Flgure 1 is a vertical central section of a dry cell, embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a cell of slightly modified form;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a further modification; and

Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of the end plug or closure member shown in Fig. 1.

I have shown my improvements applied to a small dry-cell of the type commonly used in connection with pocket flash-lights. In its general features it comprises a drawn metal shell or cup 10, usually of zinc, forming one of the electrodes. Within the cup is a cartridge 11, of suitable depolarizing material, Wrapped in an envelop or bag 12 of cheese cloth, or the like. Within the cartridge 11 and projecting upwardly from the same is the usual carbon pencil 13, which serves as the other electrode, and which is provided at the top with the customary brass cap .141. Interposed between the side surface of the cartridge and the side wall of the cup is a suitable paste 15.

In the upper end of the cup is a closure member or plug 16,. which is shaped or formed before being placed in the cell and is adapted to be tightly fitted within the mouth of the zinc cup. The plug 16 is made of suitable insulating material and is formed prior to its introduction into the cup by a molding, cutting or other suitable operation. The plug may consist, for example, of a disk of rubber, or it may consist of a disk of fibrous insulating composition, suitably treated papier-mach, or the like.

Preferably the plug 16 is in contact, or in substantial contact, with the cartridge 11, so as to hold the latter in place. The plug has a tight fit in the mouth portion of the cup, so that it will not be displaced by the pressure of the gases generated in the cell, or otherwise. At its middle portion, the end plug directly abuts the uppersurface of thecartridge, in the form shown in Fig. 1. It is reduced at its outer part, so as to provide a peripheral chamber 17 to receive the. gases generated in the cell by thermal or electrolytic action. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the plug is in the nature of a disk, having a central downwardly projecting boss 18, which serves as an abutment to position the cartridge in the cell. The plug is provided with a central perforation 19,

which snugly fits the upper end portion of the electrode 13, so that the cartridge is properly centered-in the upper end of the cell, and the centering of the cartridge in the lower end of the-cell is effected by means of a suitable bottom centering disk20.

Preferably the downward projection 18 on the end plug, by which the gas chamber'17 is created, is formed as an integral part ofthe plug, being constituted by a o linder of less diameter than the main part 0 the plug, located centrally with respect thereto, the

outer part of the plug having in, effect anannular rabbet at its under part. The gas chamber is defined at the top and at the inner side by the surfaces of the end plug, and the outerwall of the chamber isconstituted by the side wall of the zinc cup. In

the form shown in Fig. 1, the gases are free to rise directly into the chamber 17, which is in unobstructed communication with the space containing the paste. In the form shown in Fig. 2, however, a thin paper washer 21 is interposed between the cartridge and the end plug, so as to act as the floor of the gas chamber. In this case the gases pass upwardly around the washer 21.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, the boss 18 is made as a separate piece from the main part 16 of the closure member or plug.- In this case also the member 22, which is interposed between the part 18 and the top of the cartridge, is thicker and stiffer than in the form shown in Fig. 2. The part 22 may in fact be a disk similar to the disk 16?.

In order to hold the end plug tightly in the zinc cup, a special form of connection may be provided, if desired, the upper part of the plug being provided for this purpose inserted in the upper end of the cup aroundthe end of the electrode and presenting a gas chambercut away .at the bottom for communication with the paste space.

' 2. Ina-dry cell, a cup, ac'artri'dge therein of less height than the cup, having an'upwardly projecting electrode, a paste interposed between the cartridge and the side wall of the cup, and an end plug for the cu surrounding the upper end of said electro e I and having a peripheral gas chamber open at the bottom. 7

3. In a dry cell, an end plug havinga rabbet presenting a gas chamber.

4:.In a dry cell, an end plug havin a peripheral rabbet lpresenting a gas chain er.

5. In a dryv cel, an end closure member having a boss to hold the cartridge in place.

6. In a dry cell, an end lug having a central, approximately cylin rical boss to hold the cartridge in place.

7. In a dry cell, an end plug having a cen-' tral, approximately cylindrical boss to hold the cartridge in place, said boss being made in one piece with the plug.

8. Ina dry cell, a metallic cup, a cartridge therein of less height than the cup, an end closure member in the mouth portion of the cup, and a boss on the end closure member trode andhaving a central downwardly projecting boss.

10. In a dry cell, an end plug having an integral central spacing projection.

11. Ina dry cell, an end plug having an integral spacing projection.

12. In a dry cell, a cup, a cartridge therein, and a thick preformed end lug forming the outer closure of the cup an having associated with its under part a gas-space-creating projection.

- 13. In a dry cell, a cup, a cartridge there in, and a thick preformed end plug forming the outer closure of the cup and having associated with its under part a gas-space-creatmg projection, said projection formed inteopening therein, and an electrode pencil enga ing said opening for centering said pencil in the cup, said disk and the other cell parts being constructed and arranged to present a gas chamber beneath and adjacent to the lower face of the disk.

, 15. In aidry cell, a cup, a cartridge therein having an upwardlyprojecting electrode pencil, andv a preformed disk of insulating material having an opening engaged by sald electrode pencil and located Within the mouth portion ofthe cup'to close the latter and center the pencil, said disk being constructed and arranged to present'a gas chamber beneath and adjacent to the lowerface of the disk at the peripheral portion of said disk:

16. In a dry cell, a metallic cup, a cartridge therein of less height than the cup, having an upwardly projecting electrode pencil, a body ofpaste interposed between the cartridge and the side wall of thecup.

, and a preformed disk inserted in the upper end portion ofthe cup around the end of the electrode pencil and having a gas space immediately beneath the same and above the paste level.

17. In a dry cell, a metallic cup, a cartridge therein of less heightthan the cup, having an upwardly projecting electrode pencil, a body of paste interposed between the cartridge and the side wall of the cup, and a preformed disk inserted in the upper end portion of the cup around the end of the elec trode pencil and having a gas space immedi ately beneath the same and above the paste level at at least the peripheral portion of said disk.

18. In a dry cell, a metallic cup, a cartridge therein of less height than the cup, having an upwardly projecting electrode pencil, a body of paste interposed between the cartridge and the side wall of the cup, and a preformed disk inserted in the upper end portion of the cup around the end of the electrode pencil and having a gas space immediately beneath the same and above the paste level, and means in connection with the cup wall for securing said disk from displacement.

19. In a dry cell, a metallic cup, a cartridge therein of less height than the cup, having an upwardly projecting electrode pencil, a body of paste interposed between the cartridge and the side wall of the cup, and a preformed disk inserted in the upper end portion of the cup around the end of the electrode pencil and having a gas space immediately beneath the same and above the paste level, and means in connection with plug and located centrally the cup wall for securing said disk from displacement in an upward direction.

20. In a dry cell, ametallic cup, acartridge therein of less height than the cup,

having an upwardly projecting electrode.

pencil, a body of paste interposed between the cartridge and the side wall ofthe cup, a preformed disk'inserted in the upper end portion of thecup around the end of the electrode pencil for centering the latter, and

having a peripheral gas space beneath the same above the paste level, means for spacing said disk at a predetermined distance from the upper end of the cartridge, and means for preventing upward displacement-of the disk relatively to the cup.

21. In a dry cell, a metallic cup, a cartridge therein of less height than the cu having an upwardly projecting electrodb pencil, a body of paste interposed between,

the cartridge and theside wall of the cup, a preformed disk inserted in the upper end portion of the cup around the end of the electrode pencil for centering the latter, anclhaving a peripheral gas space beneaththe same above the paste level, means for spacing said disk at a predetermined distance from the upper end of the cartridge, and means for preventing upward displacement of the disk relatively to the cup, said displacement preventing means comprising. a shoulder formed in the metal of the cup wall adjacent the mouth of the cup and overlying a portio of said disk. i

22. In a dry cell, a sheet metal cup, a cartridge therein having an upwardly projecting pencil, a body of paste interposed between the side of the cartridge and the side wall of the cup, and a preformed disk in the mouth of the cup for centering said pencil and closing the cup mouth, the metal of the cup Wall being displaced to hold the disk in position in the cup, and the disk being peripherally spaced. above the cartridge to create a gas chamber between it and the cartridge.

23. In a dry cell, a sheet metal cup, a cartridge therein having an upwardly projecting pencil, a body of paste interposed between the side of the cartridge and 'the side wall of the cup, a yielding washer overlying the paste and resting against the upper surface of the cartridge, and a preformed disk in the mouth of the cup for closing the latter and centering said pencil, the metal of the cup wall being displaced to prevent the disk from moving out of the cup month, said disk being peripherally spaced above said yielding washer to create a gas chamber between said parts.

24. In a dry cell, a sheet metal cup, a cartridge therein having an upwardly projecting pencil, a body of paste interposed between the side of the cartridge and the side wall of the cup, a yielding washer overlying the paste and resting against the upper surface of the cartridge, and a preformed disk in the mouth of the cup for closing the latter and centering said pencil, the metal of the cup wall being displaced to prevent the disk from moving out of the cup mouth, said disk being peripherally spaced above said yielding washer to create a gas chamber between said parts, and means for holding the peripheral portion of the disk at a definite level above the washer when the disk is inserted into the cup so that the gas space is main tained at a definite height.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand on the 5th da of Ma 1920.

HAROL on O ANETA. 

